Sunset Boulevard by Zoey Dean Read Free Book Online Page A

Sure, she'd never been one to talk about
    her feelings ad nauseam, but her best girlfriends had always been there to plan shopping trips,
    spa visits, and evenings out whenever she and Ash had fought in the past. Now they were
    actually broken up, and her friends' best effort had been an offer to join them when they invited
    Amelie Adams and Kady Parker to lunch.
    "Yeah, completely lame," Myla said, gesturing Jojo to follow. "The car's waiting. Let's go."
    Myla and Jojo sat on the outdoor terrace of the Bel-Air Hotel's restaurant, which overlooked
    Swan Lake. Jojo couldn't believe it contained actual, majestic-looking swans and not the dingy
    gray ones she'd seen at the Sacramento community golf course. The hotel's famed bird-ofparadise plant loomed overhead, casting jagged shadows on their white linen tablecloth.
    Around her, the clink of silverware chimed daintily as well-dressed ladies nibbled on finger
    sandwiches.
    Jojo breathed in, loving the smell of fresh apricots that wafted from a nearby tree. The hotel's
    glam pink stucco buildings, set deep off Sunset Boulevard, had made Jojo feel underdressed.
    Now she felt just right, wearing Myla's cadet jacket over her soft cotton T-shirt. At the table
    next to them, a set of blue-haired ladies who looked like identical twins in their pink Chanel
    suits squawked to one another about how "adorable" Myla and Jojo were.
    Bel-Air tea was Myla's bad-day destination, a fact she hadn't wanted to share with Jojo. Her
    new sister had gone through enough today. Just the fact that Jojo had no interest in Grant had
    been a monumental lift to Myla's spirits. Myla laughed to herself. A week ago, the last person
    she'd have imagined bringing to tea was this intruder, who arrived and seemingly claimed all
    their parents' attention instantly. But then again, a week ago, Myla had still thought her breakup
    with Ash was just an extended bout of his stubbornness to give up in a fight. And a week ago,
    she'd have been here with her friends. Myla knew they'd be back... eventually. In the meantime,
    a little sisterly bonding couldn't hurt.
    "Thanks again for your help in class. I could never do that," Jojo said. "I just clam up. It's like
    you studied for that moment."
    "No," Myla said, brushing off the compliment. "I was raised by Barkley Everhart and Lailah
    Barton is all."
    Jojo rolled her eyes. "I wish that was it. Come on. I'm genetically tied to Barkley and Lailah. If
    you get that from them, shouldn't I too? Maybe they made a mistake."
    The reminder that Jojo was her parents' flesh-and-blood true kid stung Myla, but the prickle
    passed quickly. There was no doubt in Myla's mind that Jojo was Barbar's real kid. Jojo's eyes
    were the same one-in-a-million violet as her mom's, and her grin was 100 percent pure Barkley.
    Jojo's problem was that she didn't know how to be their daughter.
    "Nurture versus nature. You were raised by two men who, no offense, think hip is just a bone
    in your pelvis. Our parents taught me plenty about charity, but I grew up in Hollywood. I
    learned how to do cutthroat when the time is right. You didn't have that advantage." Myla
    looked into Jojo's eager violet eyes as they twinkled in the sun. With her easy smile, open face,
    and trusting gaze, Jojo seemed the perfect candidate for a Myla makeover. And if she was
    going to be part of the family, shouldn't she live up to the Everhart name? Myla leaned across
    the table, an idea forming. "I can change all that."
    Jojo shrugged. "Thanks, but it's not like you can swoop in every time some jerkbag lays into
    me."
    "Stop being dense. I'm not going to be your pit bull. I can do way better. Teach you everything
    you need to know to be part of America's most famous family."
    Jojo laughed, several scone crumbs flying from her lips. She reddened, covering her mouth
    with her hand. From under her palm, she said, "It's not like I'm a simple twelve-step program
    away from ruling the school."
    Myla let go of Jojo's wrist, sinking